Major
Biology
Anticipated Graduation Year
2021
Access Type
Open Access
Abstract
As part of a larger project assessing changes in streamwater quality resulting from improved wastewater management, two streams (Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman’s Creek) near Green Bay, WI, were monitored and sampled seasonally from Fall 2018 to Fall 2020. Benthic macroinvertebrates are useful for monitoring water quality as their diversity and specific taxa tolerances can be indicators of pollution. We found that both creeks fell into the “fairly poor” water quality category determined by the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI). However, Dutchman’s Creek displayed a higher mean equitability (evenness of invertebrate distribution across taxa) derived from the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index.
Faculty Mentors & Instructors
Dr. Berg, Aquatic Ecologist, Biology Department
Supported By
Funding for this project was provided by a grant from NEW Water to the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay and Loyola University Chicago
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 3.0 License.
Stream Water Quality Assessment Using Benthic Macroinvertebrates in Ashwaubenon and Dutchman’s Creek, Wisconsin
As part of a larger project assessing changes in streamwater quality resulting from improved wastewater management, two streams (Ashwaubenon Creek and Dutchman’s Creek) near Green Bay, WI, were monitored and sampled seasonally from Fall 2018 to Fall 2020. Benthic macroinvertebrates are useful for monitoring water quality as their diversity and specific taxa tolerances can be indicators of pollution. We found that both creeks fell into the “fairly poor” water quality category determined by the Hilsenhoff Biotic Index (HBI). However, Dutchman’s Creek displayed a higher mean equitability (evenness of invertebrate distribution across taxa) derived from the Shannon-Weiner Diversity Index.